The Trump administration has announced it will require companies to pay $100,000 per year for H-1B worker visas. This has led some major tech companies to advise visa holders to remain in the U.S. or return quickly. This policy change could significantly impact the technology sector, which heavily depends on skilled workers from countries like India and China.
The threat to crack down on the H-1B visa program has become a major point of contention with the tech industry, despite it contributing millions to his presidential campaign. In response to the announcement, Microsoft, JPMorgan, and Amazon advised their H-1B visa-holding employees to stay in the United States, and those who were abroad were told to return before Saturday midnight when the new fee structure takes effect.
Critics of the H-1B program, including many U.S. technology workers, argue that it allows firms to suppress wages and sideline Americans who could perform these jobs. Supporters, such as Tesla CEO Elon Musk, contend that the program is crucial for bringing in highly skilled workers to fill talent gaps and maintain a competitive edge. According to an executive order signed by Trump, some employers have indeed exploited the program to lower wages, negatively affecting U.S. workers.
The new fees could add millions of dollars in costs for companies, which would particularly impact smaller tech firms and startups. Analysts suggest this fee hike might force companies to move some high-value work overseas, potentially hindering America’s position in the high-stakes artificial intelligence race with China.
Statistics: Top Recipients of H-1B Visas
According to government data, India was the top beneficiary of H-1B visas last year, accounting for 71% of approved visas. China was a distant second with 11.7%. In the first half of 2025, Amazon and its cloud-computing unit, AWS, received approval for over 12,000 H-1B visas, while Microsoft and Meta Platforms each had over 5,000 H-1B visa approvals.
